South Korea
is foreseento
join the ranks of the US, France, Italy and New Zealand as one of the best
sailing nations in the world soon.

The South
Korea sailing team, "White Tiger Challenge," was recently accepted to
join the 2013 American Cup, which is considered the most prestigious of all
sailing tournaments.

The founder
of Team Korea, Dong Young Kim, believes that South Korea has great potential in
sailing considering its high-tech industry and its reputationfor hosting ‘world-class’
events, and that the country is surrounded with more than 2000-kilometerseacoast.
From only three marinasin 2008, the country now has seven plus about 30 more that are
being developed.

This
development shows how sailing is becoming a popular sport in South Korea. One
reason for this sudden interest is related to the government policy made seven
years ago which includes ‘water leisuresports,’ like sailing, as one
of the ten industries to be developed in the country. Also, as the government
recently reduced the number of working days from six to five, Koreans have had
more leisure time and more chances to
discover new hobbies.

Kim humblyadded that his Team might not have a strong chance
in the American Cup due to their limited experience, but he believes that what
they have to offer is something their competitors will learn from as well. He also hopes that by
joining this tournament and by organizing more local sailing events they can
catch the interest of more young people in the country.

Viewpoint
Discussion

Enjoy
a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A

·What do you think
are the advantages of leisure?

·Do workers in your
country have enough time for leisure? Why or why not?

Discussion B

·What are the
factors that can affect a country in joining sports events?